GRATITUDE DRAMA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 288, 16 September 1933, Page 8

GRATITUDE DRAMA

INJURED MAN'S THANKS. WORKLESS MAN'S AID. In a ward of St. George's Hospital, London, a few weeks ago, a "Daily Mail" reporter witnessed a dramatic meeting between a seriously injured girl and a workless man who rendered first aid to her after a motor-car collision near Buckingham Palace the previous night. Mr Frederick A. Hennessey, of Edgwarc, Middlesex, after a crash in which four men and two women were injured, tore off his shirt to provide bandages. He also applied iodine to the injuries of Miss Peggy Lainert, aged 22,, daughter of Mr Sidney S. .Lamert, chairman of a London mercantile, company. Smelling-salts which Hennessery carried with him were offered to the other injured persons, who included Mr John Lawrence, aged 26, son of Sir Alexander Lawrence, Bart., formerly Chief Assistant-Solicitor to the Treasury.

In spite of her injuries Miss Lainert next day expressed a desire to meet Mr Hennessey. The lattcr's wife had been out "Tiuring the morning earning half-a-crown to buy food for their four children, and he had stayed at home watching the youngest child, a boy of four, who ..had whooping cough. He refused to take money for his fare to London, and when he was- interviewed he was starting his ten-mile tramp from his home to the hospital. Mr Hennessey said he was discharged from the Navy in 1917, disabled in one arm. He had no pension, and for years has been working spasmodically on temporary jobs. For three months he had done nothing except walk on an average 20 miles a day in search of -work. Ho got 30s unemployment pay each meek.

"I have been able to help in a great many motor accidents," Mr Hennessey said, "because I often see them during my wanderings. I inherited from my father a habit of always carrying smelling salts and iodine, and I had first-aid training in the Navy. "I hate to appear a beggar; I hate to draw the dole, and I should not go to this hospital to T day except for the fact that the young woman insisted that I should yisit her." Hennessey wore a borrowed suit and shirt. When he entered the hospital ward Miss Lajsnert. her head and face in bandages, raised herself on one arm, hefel out her hand and said, "Are you the man? You're brave. You did a lot for me, and I want to thank you for all you did and for coming here." "I want to help you," Miss Lamert said to Mr Hennessey. "Tell me all about yourself and your home." He told the story of his search for work, his shortage of food and the sufferings of his wife and children. •

Miss Lamert turned to the reporter and said: "Take Mr Hennessey to a telephone. Ring up my father and tell him that I have sent him along. Something has got to be done for that baby. i am helpless lying here, or I would take him along myself." Then she made Mr Hennessey promise to visit her again,

Mr Lainert warmly thanked Mr Hennessey for his help when he arrived at his house. He had a long talk with him and promised to try to find him employment. Mr Lamert entertained Mr Hennessey to a meal and made a gift to him to pay for medical attention for his child.